LCR confirms Cal Crutchlow will return to MotoGP at the Italian Grand Prix after Johan Zarco’s injury

Crutchlow He made his final MotoGP appearance at the 2023 Japanese GP, scoring points for Yamaha as a wild card.

Is Cal Crutchlow’s Honda the best option to replace Johan Zarco?

Cal Crutchlow returned to the LCR MotoGP bike after six years

Crutchlow raced in MotoGP full-time from 2011 until the end of 2020. He won three races, scored 19 podiums and finished fifth in the 2013 championship.

After his retirement, he moved to Yamaha’s test rider position, filling in for the injured Franco Morbidelli and taking over from Andrea Dovizioso after the Italian retired early.

Planned wildcards for the 2024 season had to be canceled due to injury, and with Crutchlow returning to action in April 2025, his MotoGP days looked to be over for good. In fact, Yamaha confirmed last September that he was not part of their test team.

But now, at the age of 40, he returns for his 180th premiership start. Crutchlow spent the last six seasons with the A LCR HondaSo it’s back to normal.

Zarco’s injury could be long-term – the Frenchman has yet to undergo surgery and the exact timetable has not been announced – so it remains to be seen whether this is a one-off or a recurring set-up.

In theory, with Aleix Espargaro is injured.Takaki Nakagami is the obvious replacement, but the Japanese rider prefers to focus on developing Honda’s 2027 850cc package.